Tendencies and prospects of tourism industry in Russia : sociological analysis of stereotypes among population during tourism trips

This article deals with the current problem – development of cultural and educational tourism industry. The information for the study was collected from the questionnaires of population of municipal districts of Russia, from the information provided by the Federal Service of State Statistics, and the results of the surveys conducted by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM), etc. In the course of the study, the authors revealed that the diverge social groups of the Russian society perceive Russian cultural and educational potential, tourism service in the cities in a different way; the tendencies and basic principles of domestic tourism industry have been revealed. In the article the authors defined direct dependence between weak developed domestic infrastructure and stagnation of domestic tourism industry. The results of the study showed the stereotypes which tourists follow while choosing destinations for their trips. These stereotypes may be divided into the following groups: price, comfort, climate. They range in different social groups that lead to the market fluctuation of the domestic tourism industry.peer-reviewe

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-Induced Bacteraemia Does Not Lead to Reporter Gene Expression in Mouse Organs

Agrobacterium tumefaciens is the main plant biotechnology gene transfer tool with host range which can be extended to non-plant eukaryotic organisms under laboratory conditions. Known medical cases of Agrobacterium species isolation from bloodstream infections necessitate the assessment of biosafety-related risks of A. tumefaciens encounters with mammalian organisms. Here, we studied the survival of A. tumefaciens in bloodstream of mice injected with bacterial cultures. Bacterial titers of 108 CFU were detected in the blood of the injected animals up to two weeks after intravenous injection. Agrobacteria carrying Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter-based constructs and isolated from the injected mice retained their capacity to promote green fluorescent protein (GFP) synthesis in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. To examine whether or not the injected agrobacteria are able to express in mouse organs, we used an intron-containing GFP (GFPi) reporter driven either by a cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter or by a CaMV 35S promoter. Western and northern blot analyses as well as RT-PCR analysis of liver, spleen and lung of mice injected with A. tumefaciens detected neither GFP protein nor its transcripts. Thus, bacteraemia induced in mice by A. tumefaciens does not lead to detectible levels of genetic transformation of mouse organs

Airborne Signals from a Wounded Leaf Facilitate Viral Spreading and Induce Antibacterial Resistance in Neighboring Plants

Many plants release airborne volatile compounds in response to wounding due to pathogenic assault. These compounds serve as plant defenses and are involved in plant signaling. Here, we study the effects of pectin methylesterase (PME)-generated methanol release from wounded plants (“emitters”) on the defensive reactions of neighboring “receiver” plants. Plant leaf wounding resulted in the synthesis of PME and a spike in methanol released into the air. Gaseous methanol or vapors from wounded PME-transgenic plants induced resistance to the bacterial pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum in the leaves of non-wounded neighboring “receiver” plants. In experiments with different volatile organic compounds, gaseous methanol was the only airborne factor that could induce antibacterial resistance in neighboring plants. In an effort to understand the mechanisms by which methanol stimulates the antibacterial resistance of “receiver” plants, we constructed forward and reverse suppression subtractive hybridization cDNA libraries from Nicotiana benthamiana plants exposed to methanol. We identified multiple methanol-inducible genes (MIGs), most of which are involved in defense or cell-to-cell trafficking. We then isolated the most affected genes for further analysis: β-1,3-glucanase (BG), a previously unidentified gene (MIG-21), and non-cell-autonomous pathway protein (NCAPP). Experiments with Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and a vector encoding two tandem copies of green fluorescent protein as a tracer of cell-to-cell movement showed the increased gating capacity of plasmodesmata in the presence of BG, MIG-21, and NCAPP. The increased gating capacity is accompanied by enhanced TMV reproduction in the “receivers”. Overall, our data indicate that methanol emitted by a wounded plant acts as a signal that enhances antibacterial resistance and facilitates viral spread in neighboring plants

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Plant-made trastuzumab (herceptin) inhibits HER2/Neu+ cell proliferation and retards tumor growth.

BACKGROUND: Plant biotechnology provides a valuable contribution to global health, in part because it can decrease the cost of pharmaceutical products. Breast cancer can now be successfully treated by a humanized monoclonal antibody (mAb), trastuzumab (Herceptin). A course of treatment, however, is expensive and requires repeated administrations of the mAb. Here we used an Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression system to produce trastuzumab in plant cells. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We describe the cloning and expression of gene constructs in Nicotiana benthamiana plants using intron-optimized Tobacco mosaic virus- and Potato virus X-based vectors encoding, respectively, the heavy and light chains of trastuzumab. Full-size antibodies extracted and purified from plant tissues were tested for functionality and specificity by (i) binding to HER2/neu on the surface of a human mammary gland adenocarcinoma cell line, SK-BR-3, in fluorescence-activated cell sorting assay and (ii) testing the in vitro and in vivo inhibition of HER-2-expressing cancer cell proliferation. We show that plant-made trastuzumab (PMT) bound to the Her2/neu oncoprotein of SK-BR-3 cells and efficiently inhibited SK-BR-3 cell proliferation. Furthermore, mouse intraperitoneal PMT administration retarded the growth of xenografted tumors derived from human ovarian cancer SKOV3 Her2+ cells. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We conclude that PMT is active in suppression of cell proliferation and tumor growth

Photocontrol of Voltage-Gated Ion Channel Activity by Azobenzene Trimethylammonium Bromide in Neonatal Rat Cardiomyocytes

<div><p>The ability of azobenzene trimethylammonium bromide (azoTAB) to sensitize cardiac tissue excitability to light was recently reported. The dark, thermally relaxed <i>trans</i>- isomer of azoTAB suppressed spontaneous activity and excitation propagation speed, whereas the <i>cis</i>- isomer had no detectable effect on the electrical properties of cardiomyocyte monolayers. As the membrane potential of cardiac cells is mainly controlled by activity of voltage-gated ion channels, this study examined whether the sensitization effect of azoTAB was exerted primarily via the modulation of voltage-gated ion channel activity. The effects of <i>trans</i>- and <i>cis</i>- isomers of azoTAB on voltage-dependent sodium (INav), calcium (ICav), and potassium (IKv) currents in isolated neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were investigated using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. The experiments showed that azoTAB modulated ion currents, causing suppression of sodium (Na⁺) and calcium (Ca²⁺) currents and potentiation of net potassium (K⁺) currents. This finding confirms that azoTAB-effect on cardiac tissue excitability do indeed result from modulation of voltage-gated ion channels responsible for action potential.</p></div

Effect of azoTAB on voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ currents in neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes.

<p>(A) L-type Ca²⁺ currents obtained in the absence (control) and presence of 100 μM <i>trans</i>- azoTAB and after ~365 nm near-UV irradiation. Inset: original current trace in response to a voltage step from -40 to 0 mV for 300 ms. Inactivation of INav was achieved by a prestep from a holding potential HP of -80 mV to -40 mV for 100 ms. Similar results were obtained in three other cells. (B) ICavpeak recorded before and after incubation with 100 μM azoTAB, as well as after near-UV irradiation, and expressed as a percentage of that of the peak currents before the treatment. Each cardiomyocyte was incubated in the presence of azoTAB at room temperature for ~3 min in a measuring chamber. The currents were inhibited by approximately 60% relative to the control. Near-UV was applied for 90 s. The data are the means ± SEM from three cardiomyocytes, *<i>p</i>< 0.05. (C) Averaged I/V relations of the L-type Ca²⁺ currents elicited by the voltage-clamp protocol illustrated in the inset (HP = -80 mV) and plotted before (filled circles) and after (open circles) the application of azoTAB. The values are expressed as the mean ± SEM, <i>n</i> = 4. The current density is plotted as a function of the voltage.</p

Effect of azobenzene trimethylammonium bromide (azoTAB) on ramp currents in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes.

<p>(A) A representative TTX-sensitive current that was evoked when the voltage was increased smoothly from -120 to +50 mV for 200 ms. The cell was prepulsed to -120 mV for 100 ms from a HP of -80mV. The voltage protocol is shown above the current trace. The inset shows scaled current traces for comparison before and after the addition of 10 μM TTX. Similar results were obtained in three other cells. (B) Scaled ramp-evoked currents recorded in response to the same ramp protocol (from -120 to +50 mV, 200 ms) in the control and after the addition of 100 μM <i>trans</i>- azoTAB. Currents were recorded every 15 s after the application of the photoreactive substance. Three minutes after the application, the current was inhibited by approximately 83% relative to that of the control. Similar results were obtained in three other cells. (C) Ion currents recorded before and after incubation with 100 μM <i>trans</i>-azoTAB, as well as after near-ultraviolet (near-UV) irradiation and expressed as percentage. Each cardiomyocyte was incubated in the presence of azoTAB at room temperature for at least 3 min in a measuring chamber. Near-UV was applied for 90 s. The data represent the means ± SEM from four cardiomyocytes, *<i>p<</i> 0.05.</p

Effect of azoTAB on voltage-dependent Na⁺ currents in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes.

<p>(A) Current-voltage relationships recorded from single neonatal ventricular cardiomyocytes under control conditions (filled circles) and after exposure to 100 μM <i>trans</i>-azoTAB (open circles). Inset: the shape of the current-voltage stimulation protocol. The current density was calculated as the Na⁺ peak current divided by the membrane capacitance of each cell (<i>n</i> = 4). (B) Concentration dependency for <i>trans</i>- azoTAB-induced inhibition of INav in neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes. Mean ± SEM, <i>n</i> = 3–4 for each point.</p

<i>cis</i>-3-hexen-1-ol vapors induce methanol emission from leaves.

<p>The upper panel depicts how <i>N. benthamiana</i> leaves were treated with a 3-h exposure to continuous airflow from an evaporator containing <i>cis</i>-3-hexen-1-ol. The bottom panel shows the methanol content in the water trap after the leaf underwent treatment with different concentrations of <i>cis</i>-3-hexen-1-ol. The data shown represent five independent experiments. Standard error bars are indicated. ***, <i>P</i><0.001.</p